[23AJ]

A great read on the ESPN NBA website right now regarding LeBron, and the Dunk Contest.

Updated: Feb. 2, 2006, 4:34 PM ET
LeBron needs to rise upBy Tom Friend
ESPN The Magazine
Archive

He has Michael's ad agency, Michael's 23 and Michael's throne. So what's wrong with Michael's dunk contest?

LeBron James is copping out again, copping out on his responsibility as face (or co-face) of the league. The dunk contest wasn't beneath a young MJ, and it wasn't beneath a young Kobe, but LeBron won't risk it. Just like he won't risk a last-second shot. It's getting old.

He has ascended to this sort of MJ status -- Super Bowl commercials, appearances on national TV every week -- but has not entirely deserved it. He has never been in a playoff game, much less won a playoff game, yet he shares the league right now with Kobe. He's obviously an electric player, a triple-double waiting to happen, but he's almost basketball's Peyton Manning -- no storybook endings.

He has no memorable buzzer beater, no signature pressure moment, and, at the tail of close games recently, he has clanked free throws or passed to a surrounded, frightened Aleksandar Pavlovic. MJ only passed if Wennington was all alone for a game-winning layup or if Paxson was wide open for a title-winning jumper. Otherwise, the shot was going up, hell or high water. But LeBron, who seems to have a nervous tic, gets a free ride from the public. Gets to act like a 10-year vet. Gets to skip dunk contests, no questions asked.

He can't have it both ways. He can't have a Nike miniseries, then opt for the skills competition. He's only 21. He needs to pay his dues like the rest of 'em. It's his duty to dunk.

He can't be afraid to

He can't be afraid to fail. MJ risked it all against Dominique; Dr. J risked it all against David Thompson. But LeBron won't risk it all against Josh Smith and Nate Robinson? The talking heads on this network, from 5 to 6 p.m. ET, say the dunk contest is a thing of the '80s, that its days are long gone. But LeBron could bring it back in a heartbeat ... if he just said yes. Trust me, the kids in this country want to see that, deserve to see that. It would be LeBron's rite of passage.

But it'll never happen, because he appears to be all about image. His world's too perfect right now. Doing "The LeBrons" commercial. Being the squeaky clean antithesis of Carmelo. Visiting elementary schools. Why mess with that? Why even do in-depth interviews? He's getting by right now on reputation and marketing and stats and a seven-game Cavaliers winning streak in a bad Eastern Conference. He's obviously thinking, "Why take a chance? Why do the dunk contest and risk getting embarrassed by a 5-foot-9 New York Knick?'"

For the record, he says, "I'm not a dunk competition type of guy" -- the presumption being he's a pass-first choreographer like Magic Johnson. How much you averaging LeBron? Thirty? That's not Magic Johnson. What's your vertical, LeBron? 30-plus? That's not Magic Johnson.

He says, "I can't think of a dunk and then go do it" -- the presumption being that he's not creative. He says, "I'll leave it up to guys who don't play as many minutes as I do. Those guys can throw it between their legs and stuff like that" -- the presumption being that he can't.

It's all talk, all an act, all politically correct. That's him. That's corporate LeBron. But he's coasting along here in his third year, and it's getting old. You just don't show up out of high school and get handed MJ's life.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=2315558

[Sir Patchwork]

If he is the NBA's Peyton Manning, it's not because he won't enter the dunk contest. People are overreacting.

[futuristxen]

Lebron needs to keep doing what he's doing to help the Cavs reach the playoffs. People need to stop crying. Dude doesn't want to do the dunk contest. So what? Maybe he doesn't want to be like MJ. Maybe he wants to be like Lebron. This only re-affirms my idea that Lebron is kind of an iconoclast. He's not trying ot copy and be MJ. He's trying to destroy MJ. Tear down the golden calf, and put a new way in kids minds.

[Wilmatic2]

Lebron doesn't have a whole lot of variety when it comes to dunking. Just watch the 2003 McDonald's high school dunk contest for proof.

[LBJthefuturegoat]

Law 41

Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes

What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making: Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.

[Hoopla]

That was a horrible and idiotic read. The article is based on comparisons which exist in the writer's mind and writer's baseless assumptions (ie: "He's [Lebron's] obviously thinking, 'Why take a chance? Why do the dunk contest and risk getting embarrassed by a 5-foot-9 New York Knick?' ") about what Lebron is thinking.

The comparison between Manning and Lebron does make sense on a simple level, because both are great players.

[Sir Patchwork]

Originally Posted by LBJthefuturegoat

Law 41

Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes

What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making: Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.

Picking number 23 isn't exactly the way to avoid stepping into Jordan's shoes.

Still though, this isn't refusing to take the final shot in a game 7, this is entering the dunk contest. I never thought someone would make the argument "This is why LeBron won't be the greatest, he won't enter the dunk contest!" let's be real here.

[LBJthefuturegoat]

Originally Posted by Sir Patchwork

Picking number 23 isn't exactly the way to avoid stepping into Jordan's shoes.

Still though, this isn't refusing to take the final shot in a game 7, this is entering the dunk contest. I never thought someone would make the argument "This is why LeBron won't be the greatest, he won't enter the dunk contest!" let's be real here.

Yeah number 23 is the only thing about James and Jordan the same. James game is so different.

It is crazy. Not entering a dunk contest means he's scared? I don't believe that. I think he just doesn't want to go down that path. He wants to make his own and be different in a way.

[The MAMBA]

Originally Posted by futuristxen

He's not trying ot copy and be MJ. He's trying to destroy MJ. Tear down the golden calf, and put a new way in kids minds.

Uhh no he isn't. And if he is trying to "destroy" MJ...he is severely failing at that objective in terms of on-court success. But MJ is like his greatest idol. That's why he wears number 23. He is trying to be the same media type figure that Mike was however...the same one you argued was too pc and wasn't outspoken and charimatic as your boy, Muhammed Ali. And what is he putting into kids minds? That he can average 30 points for a season and a few more boards....and MAYBE actually get into the playoffs, let alone win a game or a series within the playoff series? Or is he trying to destroy MJ by not yet leading his team to even an 8th seed in a weak Eastern Conference for the past 2 years.

[sherako]

Originally Posted by LBJthefuturegoat

Law 41

Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes

Fascinating. Just did a search and came up with the 48 laws of power...never heard of them. I will bookmark it for a rainy day.